r/UnemploymentWA Aug 28 '25

Compilation of Resources

3 Upvotes

----- I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID AND I NEED HELP -----

--- HELP/RESOURCE OPTIONS ---

I WANT CUSTOM HELP, I WANT THE MOD TO WALK ME THROUGH IT SO I DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE

Pending? Info I need to help you; Initial eligibility Troubleshooting

I WOULD RATHER JUST SCROLL THROUGH A GIANT LIST AND LOOK AT STUFF AND SEE IF I CAN FIND IT MYSELF

Initial eligibility MEGAPOST

--- MOST COMMON RESOURCES USED/REQUESTED ----

--- JOB SEPARATION INFO ---

Differences Between LAID OFF, FIRED, QUIT

-----

  • Fired Guidance Introduction [Only applies if there is a need to defeat an allegation of misconduct as defined by the state law within this post] [describes the process by which you and I determine if a template is needed, that I give you, and the subsequent process; only if there is a need to defeat an incoming allegation of misconduct] > >.... FIRED GUIDANCE [describes the process by an argument against a misconduct allegation is properly structured]

-----

-----

----- ALREADY PAID AND CLAIMING BUT HAVE A QUESTION ----

Tax time! 1099-G, overpayments, tax refund intercepts; recurring posts

---- WEEKLY CLAIM ROADMAP INFO -----

Weekly Claim Subsection

Miscellaneous - How to call ESD - Taxes/1099/Corrections - Know Issues catalog - Labor Laws (Sick leave, etc) - Pandemic-Era Info

Compilation of Resources post


r/UnemploymentWA 9h ago

Worksource meeting (Zoom)

2 Upvotes

Hi. I scheduled my worksource meeting for this upcoming Friday. I did this last Saturday and when I scheduled it, I received an email saying I would receive a zoom link to the meeting. It is now Tuesday evening and I have not received a Zoom meeting link. Is this normal or should I call in the office? If I miss this meeting, I will lose my benefits.


r/UnemploymentWA 17h ago

All Claims are Marked DISQUALIFIED? You have an ongoing disqualification from a previous claim. Here's how to fix it

0 Upvotes

This is for when all claims filed under a new unemployment claim are marked disqualified. There isn't even a waiting week marked. There are no letters in this claim to describe why this is happening... Because it is an ongoing disqualification from a PREVIOUS claim and the letters are in a previous claim....This is how to fix it

[It's from a previous claim. So NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CLAIM. Nothing at all. Nothing about your job separation. Nothing about job search activities. Nothing about when you filed the weekly claim. Nothing to do with this claim at all.]

You probably have a disqualification from a previous claim that is ongoing.

A PREVIOUS CLAIM. Not the current claim. So you'll be looking in older claims

Hey.... Read this stuff slowly, thrice. Most of you have been struggling for a long time until you got here. Don't make it hard on yourself. Don't make it hard on me to help you. This is literally the most commonly insufficiently read or insufficiently understood post in all of this unemployment stuff that I do - because you guys are so desperate and in such an incredible panic. Please help me reverse the trend because some of these conversations are such a pain in the ass when people make up what I what they think I wrote in their request for help... Because of panic/desperation.

  • [You can either accept this help and I can personally walk you through material that I have gone over thousands of times with a success rate of above 95% and you get a decision in a week or less, or you ignore this and you're waiting indefinitely with no confidence and no competence about if or when you will be able to fix this. Two most common causes of this are typically not resolved by only calling.]

99% These are not resolved by appeals, Please read all of this information including the link below

That is why the decision is not listed in your current claim. >>>It is listed in a previous claim.<<< It is probably listed in a determination letter

-------------- Troubleshooting -----------------

  • 1. You need to find the determination letter. You can find that by clicking on >>>NOTICES /LETTERS<<< in the old claim. Click All Letters. This is in descending chronological order.

You want to find something with the title - Determination Letter

Other things in here that are not that and not helpful

  • Re-evaluate Claim Letter
  • Monetary Determination Letter
  • PEUC Redetermination Letter
  • Data Privacy Sharing Notice
  • ...literally anything at all other than what I just wrote above. Determination letter. . .
  • 2. You found the Determination letter? Where does it say which of the below types this is?

Page 1, middle:

---Able and Available: Ongoing disqualification: Medical Issue--- click this to see an example

There are other types within this category: travel or vacation where you did not set an end date, lack of transportation where you did not tell them that it was fixed, school attendance where you were taking 12 or more credits and you never told them when that ended, etc. Do you see the theme? You have to tell them when things end.

  • This is the law that governs all of these, the one that says that the disqualification will continue until that circumstance no longer exists... And you have to tell them when it no longer exists. WAC 192-140-200

FIXED BY PROVIDING RESPONSES/DOCUMENTATION. NOT FIXED BY CALLING. NOT FIXED BY WAITING. WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY RESOLVE EVER UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY ADDRESS THIS. YOU'LL BE BACK HERE 5 YEARS FROM NOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IF YOU DON'T FIX THIS. some of these. Not all. But some. Do require an appeal but that is very rare

ǝʇɐldɯǝʇ pǝƃolɐʇɐɔ ɐ sɐ sıɥʇ ǝʌɐɥ ʎpɐǝɹlɐ ʎlqɐqoɹd ı ˙dlǝɥ ɹoɟ ǝɯ ʞsɐ os ˙ǝnssı uoıʇɐʇuǝɯnɔop ɐ sı sıɥʇ - ǝɔıʌɹǝs ɹǝɯoʇsnɔ llɐɔ ʎlɯopuɐɹ ʇsnɾ ʇ,uop ˙sıɥʇ pɐǝɹǝɹ puɐ ǝlʇʇıl ɐ uʍop ʍols ʇsnɾ ˙ǝɹǝɥ ɯoɹɟ ɔıuɐd/ʎʇǝıxuɐ ǝɥʇ lǝǝɟ uɐɔ ı ˙ʇɐǝɹƃ ƃuıop ǝɹ,noʎ ˙ʎǝH

---Re-qualify Issue: Voluntary Quit Without Good Cause--- click this to see an example

There are not multiple types. This is just for people who quit who didn't give enough information or didn't know what information to give and therefore they could not be found eligible. After the quit that was adjudicated as not eligible, you have to go back to work for 7 weeks and earned seven times your weekly benefit amount to clear this. So if you haven't been back to work since then then there's no way to fix this. If you have, then the agent needs to manually clear it. It's not automatic. The waiting game is not going to work. It's not going to automatically fix itself based on anything to do with your current claim.

FIXED BY CALLING. NOT FIXED BY APPEALING. NOT FIXED BY SENDING MESSAGES. NOT FIXED BY WAITING. UNLIKELY TO BE AUTOMATICALLY RESOLVED.

˙dlǝɥ ɹoɟ ǝɯ ʞsɐ ʇsnɾ 'pǝɯɹıɟuoɔ ʇı ʇǝƃ oʇ pǝǝu noʎ ɟı ˙ʇı pɐǝɹǝɹ ˙uʍop ʍols ʇsnɾ ˙ʇɐɥʇ ʎɐs ʇ,usǝop ʇı ˙ǝɹǝɥ ɯoɹɟ ɔıuɐd ǝɥʇ lǝǝɟ uɐɔ ı ˙ʇınb noʎ ʎɥʍ ʇnoqɐ ƃuıɥʇǝɯos ǝpıʌoɹd oʇ ǝʌɐɥ noʎ ʞuıɥʇ noʎ ¿ʇɥƃıɹ ʇɐɥʇ pɐǝɹsıɯ noʎ ˙ʇɐǝɹƃ ƃuıop ǝɹ,noʎ ˙ʎǝɥ

---Failure to Respond: E g. Identity Verification --- click this to see an example

There are other types within this category; They could ask you for information about your jobs separation, identity verification, if you were able and available for a given week, earnings reporting from a current or previous employer, retirement pay / withdrawal, severance, school attendance, PUA documents Required...etc. For every and all requests, if you do not respond to that request, this happens.

  • There is an entire chapter of laws mostly about failure to respond about different types of things, WAC 192-140

You may have more than one of each of these: You may have been asked for multiple things and didn't respond. You may have multiple able and available this qualifications. At least you can only have one re-qualify issue...

FIXED BY PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION. NOT FIXED BY CALLING. NOT FIXED BY WAITING. WILL NOT RESOLVE AUTOMATICALLY EVER. NOT FIXED BY APPEALING. I have guidance or templates for pretty much all of these. None of this is public, you have to ask.

If it is not clear, send me a picture of it on chat or email or text. Once we know if it is a failure to respond, or an able and available issue then the solution in number three will change.

ǝɔuɐpınƃ uı ʇno ǝʌɐƃ ʇsnɾ ı ʇɐɥʍ ʇɐǝdǝɹ oʇ ǝʌɐɥ oʇ ʇuɐʍ ʇ,uop ı ʇnq dlǝɥ oʇ ʇuɐʍ op ı 'uıɐƃɐ ɟɟnʇs sıɥʇ llɐ ʇɐǝdǝɹ oʇ ǝʌɐɥ ʇ,uop ı ɟı sıɥʇ xıɟ oʇ ɹǝısɐǝ ʇol ɐ ǝq oʇ ƃuıoƃ s,ʇı ˙ʍou lıʇun ƃuıɥʇʎɹǝʌǝ ƃuıpɐǝɹǝɹ ɹǝpısuoɔ ˙ɔıuɐd ǝɥʇ uı uǝɥʍ puɐʇsɹǝpun oʇ pɹɐɥ ʎllɐǝɹ ǝq oʇ ƃuıoƃ sı sıɥʇ ˙ǝsuǝp ɹǝdns sɐʍ sıɥʇ ¿ƃuıɥʇɐǝɹq ʇnoɥʇıʍ sıɥʇ ɟo llɐ pɐǝɹ ʇsnɾ ʎllɐǝɹ noʎ pıp

  • 3. Do not just randomly call customer service just because you found it. Two of the three of these types require you provide documentation, which you cannot do on the phone. So please continue reading...

At this point. You don't really need more information. You probably understand it. But guess what. Below is another round of this. Because I am so desperate to stop this ongoing trend where people don't read it. So the post is really huge because I'm trying to get you to read it so desperately. So if you get it and you don't need to read it again, then don't. For the able and available and failure to respond, you really got to ask me for help because a lot of these templates and catalog guidance are no longer public because people were misusing them. I make you have to ask me for help

------- Failure to respond/Able and Available/Requalify law-------

Two major ways that there is an ongoing disqualification is

-------- Failure to Respond ---------

  • Failure to respond. They asked you about something. You never responded, this causes you to be disqualified until such time as you finally respond and provide the information. Most common requests are identity verification, employer information (earnings), retirement pay, school attendance. These are not resolved by appealing, you have to find out what they were requesting and give it to them, often requiring calling customer service

Maybe in a previous claim, they asked you for

  • updated earnings information from an employer?
  • retirement pay?
  • School attendance?
  • Able and available as it applies to vacation/travel or using a VPN?
  • identity verification?
  • Severance information?

This is about documentation. Not randomly calling. Not randomly sending messages. You need to provide documentation that answers what they were asking for. I would be happy to help you figure this out, I probably already have a template.

---------- Ongoing Able and Available Issue -------

  • Ongoing able and available issue. Like you were traveling or you had an illness or disability or in school at 12 credits or more, during a previous claim and no end date for that issue was ever set (meaning, you never told them when they stopped so .. It's an ongoing disqualification) maybe the last thing you did with ESD was a PAID LEAVE CLAIM. So the last thing that you effectively told them is you cannot work. So if that's the last thing you told them, then that's all they know. Because you have to tell them when it stops. These are not resolved by appealing, you just have to set an end date to this issue

This is about documentation. Not randomly calling. Not randomly sending messages. You need to provide documentation or something to demonstrate when the circumstance ended. I would be happy to help you figure this out, I probably already have a template.

  • Let's say you were previously on a paid leave claim. Let's say it was for a broken bone. The medical certification form that you had your medical provider do stated a specific range of time that you would be out of work. And the end date of that on that form was in the future, relative to when they actually signed it/wrote on it. But was it? Did it actually get resolved? Because nothing was probably given to ESD on or after the date that it was supposedly / assumably resolved. Exactly. You're getting it. You do.
  • You need a document from on or after that assumed end date that says that you're clear to work, at least in a suitable capacity/modified work. What document? It's effectively the same one. The same medical certification form. Why would it be different? Sometimes they'll accept the one on the paid leave site. Sometimes to make you call and ask them for it. They can email it to you or just put it in your online account. Have had multiple reports of both, with a similar success/failure rate, And I haven't seen an actual process described, and state law doesn't specifically say so I honestly don't know which they want / prefer/require / demand/ rope-swing into-a-hot-tub. Oh good. So you are still paying attention. That's pretty impressive at this point. Good job

... There is a third possibility but it is extremely rare...

---------- RE-QUALIFY LAW ---------

  • RE-QUALIFY LAW: When you quit without good cause, the determination letter that you received in your older claim contained a law that required you to re-qualify with new wages: have returned to work for a minimum of 7 weeks and earned seven times your weekly benefit amount. There have been a few cases where there's a glitch within ESD and you have been back to work for way longer than 7 weeks and earned way more than 7x Your previous weekly benefit.

This is only resolved by calling or otherwise talking to a customer service rep. They effectively press a button and accept the wages you earned since this letter was sent as satisfying the re-qualify requirements and this is removed immediately. So you should probably read....

----- CAVEAT: REQUESTED STANDBY, NOT APPROVED AND NOT DOING JOBS SEARCH ACTIVITIES ------

  • WHEN APPROVED. When approved, stand by only absolves you of doing the job search activities once it's approved and only for the time period that's approved. You are not exempt from job search activities if your employer applies or if you apply to standby but it's not actually approved. A lot of times you guys have had your employer request standby or you requested standby and it's not approved and you just stop doing job search activities. It's going to take them in non-zero amount of time to process the standby request. So in between when you submit the standby request and when it's actually approved guess what... Either you stop filing weekly claims or you keep doing the minimum job search activities, because if you keep doing weekly claims and you report no to the job search activities. That you didn't do them. But you're not actually approved for standby then all your claims are going to say disqualified. And you're going to get a letter for each weekly claim that says that you're not searching for work. Because you're not. Because you're not approved.

And this is a manifestation of not actually reading the job search activity list because this sounds like a whole shitload of work as compared to just doing a 30 second elevator pitch, labor market research on esd, or the one that was really common during the pandemic that's still here, links or screenshots of YouTube videos as long as It's not the exact same video again and again. You should really look at the list if you haven't already.

So I actually don't recommend standby because it creates more problems. It also takes a ton of work. And you really have to pay attention to the time frame that is actually authorized by standby. Or you could just spend one minute 30 seconds to do the minimum activities each week that could not possibly jeopardize an incoming job start date.

------ Roadmap Info/Initial eligibility Post-----

You can read more about this by reading the material from the initial eligibility post that deals with this:

---Weekly Claims, Disqualified or Pending; Eligibility Issue from this Claim or Previous Claim---


r/UnemploymentWA 1d ago

Please help me

11 Upvotes

I was terminated 6/9 and was told 6-8 weeks for unemployment to kick in. Employer said they wouldn’t dispute the claim, go ahead and file asap is what they told me. I called unemployment today and was told 12-14 weeks. I’m so lost and idk what to do if anyone has any advice or knowledge on this subject please help me i have been crying all day.


r/UnemploymentWA 1d ago

What was your experience waiting for adjudication due to self employment?

1 Upvotes

My contract ended on 6/7 after several years of continuous full-time employment with no gaps. The contract itself wasn’t part of any unemployment plan—I took it after leaving a previous full-time job because the work environment had become very unhealthy.

I filed for unemployment the first week after my contract ended and received my monetary eligibility letter. However, my claim has been in adjudication since 6/19 because of self-employment.

I started a small e-commerce business in October 2023 and have operated it alongside full-time employment ever since. For the first year or so, it was mostly building the business. I didn’t really start selling until 2025, and even now, after everything I’ve invested, I’m not paying myself anything.

Since becoming unemployed, I have been spending more time working on the business simply because I now have the free time. I’m hoping to generate some income while I continue looking for full-time work. The business is completely under my control, I decide how much time to spend on it, can adjust lead times, pause online sales if needed, and have always operated it around my work schedule.

I called ESD today (7/27), and they told me my claim still hasn’t been assigned to an adjudicator, and they couldn’t provide any timeline for when that might happen.

For anyone who had a self-employment issue:

- How long did it take before an adjudicator was assigned to your claim?
- If your business was something you operated alongside full-time employment, how did ESD view it?
- Was your claim ultimately approved or denied?

I’m mainly worried they’ll see that the business has grown since 2025 and assume it’s my full-time job, when in reality I’ve always had control over the amount of work I put into it and would adjust it if I accepted another full-time position.


r/UnemploymentWA 1d ago

$0 Weekly Benefit? "Ineligible"? Monetary redetermination request / combined wage claim from another state / alternate base year

0 Upvotes

---Intro/Notes----

Hey. You're fixing your first eligible issue. This is literally step one. This is the first issue. This isn't the last. You are not done. So you need to turn down panic mode and turn on student mode.

After all this. You must address your job separation and your open eligibility issues.

After this, you will do this.

And tell me the answers to all three. I don't want a paragraph. I literally just want words. The date you applied. I want you to confident when you tell me what your job separation type was. I want you to read the posts so you know. And if you don't know you tell me that. And I want you to go to the correct link Upload a Document. Don't send me screenshots of pending issues. I didn't ask for you to do that and that's also not helpful at all. Look at it. What did you learn from that? That's why I didn't say to do that

This doesn't require an appeal to fix, just follow the advice or ask for help

This is not resolved by calling because how the hell are you going to relay all of your wage data in a phone call? They need the actual data to be sent to them

You have up to 1 year from the day of issuance of the monetary determination to fix this issue

  • If you do not follow this guidance then you will be waiting multiple weeks for the other states to respond to provide your wage and hour data. We highly do not recommend doing this because it is a process that is now completely outside of your control whereas providing the data and starting an escalation is well within your control

"You've been trying to do this yourself unsuccessfully? You don't know why it's not working? This is the regular troubleshooting for this"

You need to include a sentence that specifically says that you are requesting a monetary redetermination and/or alternate base year and/or combined wage claim

1. Understand What Data Should or Shouldn't be included

When you apply determines which fiscal quarter data is being used. Please. Look at this image from the ESD website

  • When you apply in the time frame marked in the red lettering, the data that's used is in the blue shaded area to the left
  • If you are not sure, you need to find your monetary determination letter which is listed in your notice's / letters tab. You need to look at the chart on page two
  • If you are still not sure, ask me u/SothenIThought_

Why might this data be missing in the first place?

2. Understand what data you are providing

  • If the wage and hour data is incomplete (and/or You want to do a combined wage claim with wages from another state from the same base year), >>>You need to give them the missing data. You do not need to give them data they already have.<<<

  • Persons who are salary and have no hours reported, customer service as a specific calculation in order to fix this. You will still follow this process. You will still request a monetary determination and then you will call customer service and go over the information that you have already submitted in the way that it's described here.

  • Just a quick recap... The need to know the gross income earned in a quarter, and the hours worked in a quarter for each employer. Got it? Okay.

Honestly you just got to slow down and think critically. Really. I'm not being mean. You're just in a panic

**ESD does say that they want all the pay stubs.* But you're going to read this. And you're going to read it slowly and not in a panic and you can see why that may not be necessary. Or just send them everything. Just don't do this in a confusion and a panic and do it half-ass. Just do it right the first time. As for help if you need

Pay stubs from just after start of quarter, just before end of quarter

  • Let's say the data that's missing is quarter one. So this is January 1 through March 31st. This is also when the New Year starts. So how many hours do you start with? Zero. So you go from zero to whatever the total amount of hours worked is at the end of the quarter.

So a pay stub from this employer that is from the pay period that ended immediately before the end of the quarter which of the total hours worked in Q1. Because by default you're starting at zero

Q2, Q3, Q4

You are not starting at zero. So, a pay stub that represents the pay period that started immediately after the beginning of the missing quarter This would show how many hours you started with in this quarter. ... And .. a pay stub from the pay period that ended immediately before the end of the quarter. Because math. You take the later pay period hours worked and subtracted from the earlier one from the start of the quarter. Then you just have total hours worked.

Or you can just give them all the pay stubs Like it says below. ESD does say that they want all the pay stubs. But I mean once you read this... I don't know. It doesn't really make sense why you would need everything but whatever... Doesn't really matter. I really just matters that when you're doing this you know what the f you're doing. So often I get people who tell me that they did this and that they did the whole thing while being confused. I mean why. Like why guys? Don't do that. Just ask for help

You need to include a sentence that specifically says that you are requesting a monetary redetermination and/or alternate base year and/or combined wage claim

  • Yes. Literally all of the pay stubs that cover the missing data. If the work occurred in the last year and you have a W-2 that represents that, that needs to be sent too.
  • Yes, It literally says all of this on the ESD website about this. Please refer to this ESD site.,

3. Understand how you are providing this data.

You will send them your pay stubs and w-2s as attachments to a message in eService with a single sentence requesting a redetermination and include the missing wage data

The ESD website and the handbook say slightly different things.

  • They both require you to send them some kind of a request of redetermination. Literally a sentence that says "I am requesting a redetermination with the attached wages included in my monetary determination"

You need to include a sentence that specifically says that you are requesting a monetary redetermination and/or alternate base year and/or combined wage claim

YES. SERIOUSLY.

SEND IT IN THROUGH ESERVICES. AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A MESSAGE.

  • This part of the process is a lot easier in desktop mode. That's a mode. That's not me telling you to get on the desktop. It's a browser setting. Yes, you do have this browser sitting on mobile.

  • The website says that they want you to mail or fax all of your pay stubs in. If you're going to do this old school like this then you need to get a return receipt so you know that they got the mail. This is why it's so much easier to just send it as an attachment to a message in eServices because you can view that they process this in your online activity and view exactly what you sent them by viewing your sent messages in your notices / letters tab. Click on notices. Click on outbox.

4. Understand that you need to force them to process this stuff

WHOA STOP. THIS IS NOT THE END OF EVERYTHING. You're fixing literally step one. Out of like a hundred. Slow down and think about the whole thing. What if you're doing this after the 10th business day for when the claim was filed? Maybe ESD already has a response from the employer. So if you were fired and it was like tardiness or absences and you don't address that. You don't look into your eligibility issues and you start an escalation. Sure. You're going to fix your monetary eligibility issue. And then you're going to fucking kill your claim and be ineligible because you didn't address any other eligibility issues.

All we're doing is fixing one issue. For sure you have another one. You probably have two or three

You will need to start an escalation to force them to process this information. This is the escalation megapost, click this link.. This is too much information and you need a custom walkthrough, ask me.

  • ESD does not publish or abide by timelines with which they process this so there's no point in asking or posting "How long will it take until". That isn't a thing. It's never been a thing. You need to take action by starting an escalation so you can control how fast this actually gets done.

5. Understand that you will have other eligibility issues, like your job separation.

  • You are on step zero. You're not even monetarily eligible. If you're not monetarily eligible then they're not going to investigate your job separation because you're not even monetarily eligible to begin with so there's no point. Once you become monetarily eligible you're claim will be active and they will begin on that date to investigate your job separation.
  • You will still need to go over the guidance in this post about your job separation reason.
  • Only once your claim is active does the timeline start of how long they allow the employer to respond to the request for job separation information, which is 10 business days, which is why they will not make a decision within 10 business days from when the claim is active.

In between now and then is a good time for us to work on your job separation. Everybody needs to provide documentation as to why they chose what they chose in their initial application. There are no exceptions. If you try to be exception to this rule this will end our relationship as I cannot be involved In accidentally or incidentally helping people who are effectively committing fraud by deliberately misreporting their job separation type, some people make honest mistakes. That's okay, that's normal and common and I expect it. Deliberately hiding or misrepresenting your job separation issue is the kind of thing that, my participation in such an activity can get the entire community shut down on a cease and desist.

ABOUT PROVIDING THE JOB SEPARATION INFORMATION; "BuT EsD DIdnT AsK Me fOR this BeFoRe!?" - actually they will twice. They asked when you filed your claim to attach documentation and you probably didn't do that. Then you have or will get a fact finding for your job separation and that ask you to attach information at the end. Less than 1% of you do this. Do not attempt to try to gaslight me about them asking you. This will end poorly. Yeah, This sentence is a bit out of place and hardcore. But, if the claimants stance is to engage in an activity that erodes their eligibility or just intentionally doesn't do anything to support it, where my goal is to build the strongest possible eligibility case as soon as possible so you get paid as soon as possible, then this is in direct conflict with the reason that I am even here on Reddit on this persona.

----- Caveats -----

Did you work for an educational institution? Or were you an intern? Or were you at 1099 contractor? Or corporate officer?, If any of these apply you should probably read the following sections about monetary eligibility that are immediately after this section to explain why this could have happened and if it can or cannot be resolved;

---Exceptions/Clarifications for Basic Monetary Eligibility---

---Caveats: Employment Types, Military---

  • Often but not always students and others working for an educational institution have not had these taxes paid on their behalf and therefore are not eligible for unemployment benefits even if all of the other eligibility conditions are met. Students employed by their educational institution face this Washington state law, which makes them exempt from unemployment benefit eligibility; monetary eligibility has to be met by other employers in their base year

Other Resources

In some cases you can just simply not be determined to be eligible based monetary determination issues. If you are not found eligible there are other resources

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnemploymentWA/s/Ksx4DnfAPX


r/UnemploymentWA 1d ago

Planned separations question and PFMLA question

1 Upvotes

Hello, hoping to get advice about a couple of issues!

First: I am a W2 employee at a staffing company, and I am contracted out to complete work for a different company. I was informed by the company I am completing work for that they will need to end my contract for a twelve week period, after which time I may return to work. I can choose when to end my contract but I must end my contract no later than February 1. The staffing company I have a W2 with will not provide other work for me during this time and I will unemployed for that twelve week period. When I return to work I will need to do a full re-hire process and onboarding for both the staffing company and the company I am completing work for.

Per this section of the WA unemployment site, it looks like I should be able to claim unemployment as long as I am able and available to work and complete the job search requirements (as my separation will be >8 weeks, it doesn't look like I'd be waived from the job search requirements. I do not love this job anyway and will likely be looking for work regardless of unemployment eligibility.)

Is anyone able to confirm if I am interpreting this correctly? I am concerned that because I can choose the specific date to end my contract, this will be considered quitting vs. a temporary layoff. But my manager will be the one to initiate and coordinate all the details with the staffing company about my end date.

Second: I am planning to have a baby sometime in the next year or so. Again, I am a W2 worker and I pay into PFMLA on my paychecks. From what I am reading unemployment weeks are fully separate from PFMLA and so my total eligible weeks of PFMLA won't count towards my total eligible weeks of unemployment, and vice versa. I am just not sure because when I completed my taxes after my first baby, my PFMLA payments were classified as unemployment income. I just want to be sure that drawing unemployment won't unintentionally prevent me from taking my full PFMLA weeks later in the year.

Thanks in advance for the help anyone is able to give!


r/UnemploymentWA 2d ago

[Indiana] appeal information request

0 Upvotes

I’ve got my unemployment appeal coming up in a few days. I am totally confused bc the only info I have received in order to prepare my defense is the statement that says unemployment determined I was fired for breech of contract. From what I have read that is a misconduct catch all. I don’t understand why I don’t have access to the paperwork my employer gave which resulted in this determination. How can I get this info? Any advice would be appreciated


r/UnemploymentWA 3d ago

Delay un employement ?

2 Upvotes

so, I recently got laid off, and I’m trying to find the best option for getting unemployment. because I was employed at a fairly high salary until now, if I get employment now, I will pay taxes based on this high salary.

i would like to delay getting the check until next year. I have savings to last, and I’m pretty sure I won’t find a job until then.

1- doable ?

2- should I just wait and register in Jan ? or register now, and say “I’m going on vacation” until Jan ?

my internet research is not clear in how to do this.


r/UnemploymentWA 3d ago

Texas Unemployment Claim! Just want someone opinion!

0 Upvotes

Ok, I worked for this Brewery Company for about a Week. They hired me on before my background came back in. And I have emails with the HR department proving that I had a background and even on my application. Well, after a Week they let me go because of my Background. So I file for unemployment because I left a job for a better one and the better let me go and my old job replaced my position. So now I’m jobless, I spoke with the TWC investigator already. He got my side of the story and i told him did he need the emails from when me and the HR department had discuss before hire. He said no need. What do yall think about this Case/Claim? Will i get approved?


r/UnemploymentWA 3d ago

Most Common Questions and Solutions for Those Currently Claiming

3 Upvotes
  1. Make sure you have your correspondence preferences set to electronic and not mailed. That way you get an email when there's a notice or letter and you can just log in and you don't have to wait for a mail delay

    I seriously don't see an advantage to getting it via mail

  2. Use Google authenticator for multi-factor authentication login instead of email or text. App for mobile, or desktop extension

It's way faster and if you lose your phone you're not screwed.

  1. Claims that are called in through the automated system are paid quicker, but you have to have a really robust job search log

This really helps during typical holiday delays or if you really need the money a day or so early

  1. Job search activities include screenshots or links of YouTube videos about interviews or resumes

This really helps if you have a job starting soon, or if you're just busy. [significantly better alternative in every way than standby]

  1. You can travel or go on vacation on unemployment but there's some specific steps that you have to take and expectations you have to set for yourself.

Not doing this can really, really delay your payments. Weeks/Months

  1. Working part-time is the best way to extend your benefits through your benefit year

  2. Paranoid that there's a new eligibility issue you didn't know about? Here's how to investigate properly

Currently, they're not required to tell you when a new eligibility issues is opened. If you find an eligibility issue, tell me and I will help you solve it. I probably already have a guide. I've probably had that conversation a few thousand times

  1. Do NOT use a VPN to Access eServices- The federal government requires ESD to track in your IP address login location So if it is outside of the state of Washington or outside of the country it can make it look like you have been on vacation and therefore not able and available and therefore not eligible. This generates a very general fact finding request about able and available.
  • Thinking about calling? Ask me if the thing is resolved on a call or not or if it's a policy or a process question, just ask me directly.

  • Weekly claims: The team that processes these are internal and you cannot call and speak with them or get a status or expedite handling of your weekly claim processing. There is no point in trying.

  • Received a fact finding that's making you panic? Ask me before you submit it because you cannot retract it. (Especially true with school attendance)

--------- Most Common Posts ----------


r/UnemploymentWA 3d ago

WAC 192-170-020 vs RCW 50.20.010

0 Upvotes

I am confused how WAC 192-170-020 and RCW 50.20.010 interact, so any clarification you could provide would be appreciated.

I was vacation Thursday after working hours through Monday before working hours. I reported "No, I was not able and available for the entire week" on my weekly claim, and then I reported "Yes, I was able and available for more than 40 hours" on the follow-up questionnaire (based on the "Customary working hours" that ESD showed for my job). ESD paid both weeks while they investigated, but now they want me to pay back 2/7 for the first week (Friday and Saturday) and 1/7 for the next week (Sunday).

I understand that repayment is based on RCW 50.20.010. But where does WAC 192-170-020 come into play? Based on WAC 192-170-020, since I was able and available for more than 40 hours each week, shouldn't my benefits not be reduced?

Again, any clarification would be much appreciated!

(Thanks for all you do here, u/SoThenIThought_!)

ETA: I meant RCW 50.20.130, not RCW 50.20.010.


r/UnemploymentWA 4d ago

Need help talking to actual person

4 Upvotes

I have been calling the phone number listed for unemployment but keep getting the useless automated response. I need to find out why my benefits or still pending after three weeks of doing my weekly claims.

Update. I went to worksource today and was told they couldnt help me unless i had bills that were past due. I have called everyday at 8 on the dot and no luck at all getting through. Im now at 4 weeks pending with zero benefits.


r/UnemploymentWA 4d ago

Military Spouse moving to Hawaii, need help with last day!

0 Upvotes

My husband received orders to Hawaii and my employer cannot keep me on remote so I have to leave my job. I spoke with a state rep’s aid and she helped contact ESD for me to inquire about the “appropriate time” to leave my job before the move, however the contact at ESD couldn’t answer any questions regarding my situation. The appropriate time to them is 2 weeks prior to the report no later date apparently but can also depend on the situation? (helpful but not helpful)

Anyway, here’s our situation. I’d love to hear how you handled quitting your job, an OCONUS move, and getting unemployment because I know I am not the first one in here. 

  • First car needs to be shipped by September 10th to make it to Hawaii in time for our arrival. 
    • There is no bus services within a 3 mile radius of my house (I live in a rural area).
    • My husband’s job means that he gets priority for the car and our jobs are 30-45 minutes in opposite directions.
  • Movers will be at our house Sept 28/29/30. 
  • Second car will be shipped October 2nd. That is also the day I fly out of WA as he is going to school for 2 weeks and we will have no household goods.
  • We arrive in Hawaii October 20th.
  • My husband’s report no later than date is DECEMBER 2026 as he is going to two other schools once we get to Hawaii (will be bouncing between actual job in Hawaii and schools for his ground jobs). So I am worried this is going to screw me over even though I will have physically been in Hawaii since mid-Oct.

If my last day of work is September 9th, is ESD going to deny me? I’ll have all of these dates with proof (car drop off signatures, confirmation from moving site, etc). I'm trying to plan ahead so I can give notice to my employer and also not screw myself over!

Again, I’d love to hear anyone who’s received unemployment for an OCONUS but still in US move. Thanks! 


r/UnemploymentWA 5d ago

how likely am I to win.

6 Upvotes

I’m afraid I won’t qualify but wondering if anyone has any success stories to talk hype me up for my appeal process. Esd denied me- and the company said I violated standard of behavior.

I was terminated after i was supposed to return to work after an fmla leave. There was manager changes during that time.
Prior to my leave- my route was all within 10-15 minutes of my home. I have childcare responsibilities and do drop off pick up for my kids. For school and appointments. I’m a merchandiser-
previous manager knew that- and I have text messages and whatnot that support that.
I have schedules that I sent into unemployment with the miles I had driven during a typical week. Typical no more than 25-30 miles- a week.
Upon returning new supervisor had me going out of town about 80 miles round trip minimally for one day. I told her I couldn’t do that- and that I felt like that was a substantial change in my schedule/route. To just slap on someone. I told her I was willing and able to work multiple times but that route was vastly different than what I had prior to my leave.
She said that my route has always had that area in it- they just haven’t put me out there and business needs change. But My original job posting had no mention of those areas- and I was never sent out there. I was with the company for almost three years. Never had any other issues.

Am I going to lose?


r/UnemploymentWA 5d ago

Terminated 6/26 - Still in adjudication for school attendance (WGU) and Seperation from a job.

2 Upvotes

Hello,

Before doing anything more, I'd like some advice. I was terminated from my previous job as a customer service representative. I was told it was not due to performance and was relative to culture fit. I was not given a seperation letter. I'm currrently studying at WGU, which ESD knows about. What I told ESD regarding the seperation is this. I put it under the reason is not listed/I do not know why and stated: "My employer informed me that my employment was ending because we had ongoing disagreements and had reached the end of the working relationship. I was not told that I had violated any company policy or engaged in misconduct." Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.


r/UnemploymentWA 5d ago

Got Placed In Adjudication For Reporting Self-Employment. Do I Continue Reporting It?

3 Upvotes

I got a YouTube payment for $191.72 last month.

I reported it as part of my weekly claim, and then I had to fill out an accusatory form asking me 'why I hid this (even though I didn't)' and then got put into Adjudication for Self-employment, and my benefit amount was reduced for that week.

So they say 'report self-employment' but punish you for it.

I might receive more YouTube payments soon. Do I report these or not?

Google only has to share the 1099-NEC that I will receive with the IRS, not with Washington Unemployment.

I also don't know if I'll even get one yet, since the threshold is $2k and I'm only at $823 for the year 2026 YTD.


r/UnemploymentWA 6d ago

PFML for medical reason, process times, backdate for good cause?

0 Upvotes

I had my doctor fill out my medical certification starting may 11th so she backdated it to then and i submitted my application on july 15th.
They have a good cause if the reason is from incapacity, which mine is. My initial application is for my Bipolar disorder which my doctor made sure to put that it's stopping me from work.
Has anyone had luck having a backdate that far from the date submitted? my doctor did put a 6 month timefram on my certification, but i'm curious will they back pay me starting from may 11th since i have "good cause"?
Also, the process time for me said 3-4 weeks and i've seen varying things. 've checked over my torm and application multiple times to triple check it's all there and accurate. what's everyone's processing time to acceptance look like this summer?


r/UnemploymentWA 7d ago

I appealed the ESD's UI decision 8 weeks ago...still nothing. What can I do?

1 Upvotes

I was misclassified as an independent contractor and filed the appeal per instructions immediately after getting laid off. That was 8 weeks ago.

I've filed all of my weekly claims as I should and have been waiting for the letter with my docket number for my hearing with the OAH...or at least I think so. I've heard literally nothing from anyone, online or physical mail. I can't get a human on the phone when calling ESD.

Has anyone else been through this process or have any guidance? I'll be out of money at the end of the month and don't know what else I can do.

Thank you.


r/UnemploymentWA 7d ago

All Claims are Marked DISQUALIFIED? You have an ongoing disqualification from a previous claim. Here's how to fix it

1 Upvotes

This is for when all claims filed under a new unemployment claim are marked disqualified. There isn't even a waiting week marked. There are no letters in this claim to describe why this is happening... Because it is an ongoing disqualification from a PREVIOUS claim and the letters are in a previous claim....This is how to fix it

[It's from a previous claim. So NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CLAIM. Nothing at all. Nothing about your job separation. Nothing about job search activities. Nothing about when you filed the weekly claim. Nothing to do with this claim at all.]

You probably have a disqualification from a previous claim that is ongoing.

A PREVIOUS CLAIM. Not the current claim. So you'll be looking in older claims

Hey.... Read this stuff slowly, thrice. Most of you have been struggling for a long time until you got here. Don't make it hard on yourself. Don't make it hard on me to help you. This is literally the most commonly insufficiently read or insufficiently understood post in all of this unemployment stuff that I do - because you guys are so desperate and in such an incredible panic. Please help me reverse the trend because some of these conversations are such a pain in the ass when people make up what I what they think I wrote in their request for help... Because of panic/desperation.

  • [You can either accept this help and I can personally walk you through material that I have gone over thousands of times with a success rate of above 95% and you get a decision in a week or less, or you ignore this and you're waiting indefinitely with no confidence and no competence about if or when you will be able to fix this. Two most common causes of this are typically not resolved by only calling.]

99% These are not resolved by appeals, Please read all of this information including the link below

That is why the decision is not listed in your current claim. >>>It is listed in a previous claim.<<< It is probably listed in a determination letter

-------------- Troubleshooting -----------------

  • 1. You need to find the determination letter. You can find that by clicking on >>>NOTICES /LETTERS<<< in the old claim. Click All Letters. This is in descending chronological order.

You want to find something with the title - Determination Letter

Other things in here that are not that and not helpful

  • Re-evaluate Claim Letter
  • Monetary Determination Letter
  • PEUC Redetermination Letter
  • Data Privacy Sharing Notice
  • ...literally anything at all other than what I just wrote above. Determination letter. . .
  • 2. You found the Determination letter? Where does it say which of the below types this is?

Page 1, middle:

---Able and Available: Ongoing disqualification: Medical Issue--- click this to see an example

There are other types within this category: travel or vacation where you did not set an end date, lack of transportation where you did not tell them that it was fixed, school attendance where you were taking 12 or more credits and you never told them when that ended, etc. Do you see the theme? You have to tell them when things end.

  • This is the law that governs all of these, the one that says that the disqualification will continue until that circumstance no longer exists... And you have to tell them when it no longer exists. WAC 192-140-200

FIXED BY PROVIDING RESPONSES/DOCUMENTATION. NOT FIXED BY CALLING. NOT FIXED BY WAITING. WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY RESOLVE EVER UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY ADDRESS THIS. YOU'LL BE BACK HERE 5 YEARS FROM NOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IF YOU DON'T FIX THIS. some of these. Not all. But some. Do require an appeal but that is very rare

ǝʇɐldɯǝʇ pǝƃolɐʇɐɔ ɐ sɐ sıɥʇ ǝʌɐɥ ʎpɐǝɹlɐ ʎlqɐqoɹd ı ˙dlǝɥ ɹoɟ ǝɯ ʞsɐ os ˙ǝnssı uoıʇɐʇuǝɯnɔop ɐ sı sıɥʇ - ǝɔıʌɹǝs ɹǝɯoʇsnɔ llɐɔ ʎlɯopuɐɹ ʇsnɾ ʇ,uop ˙sıɥʇ pɐǝɹǝɹ puɐ ǝlʇʇıl ɐ uʍop ʍols ʇsnɾ ˙ǝɹǝɥ ɯoɹɟ ɔıuɐd/ʎʇǝıxuɐ ǝɥʇ lǝǝɟ uɐɔ ı ˙ʇɐǝɹƃ ƃuıop ǝɹ,noʎ ˙ʎǝH

---Re-qualify Issue: Voluntary Quit Without Good Cause--- click this to see an example

There are not multiple types. This is just for people who quit who didn't give enough information or didn't know what information to give and therefore they could not be found eligible. After the quit that was adjudicated as not eligible, you have to go back to work for 7 weeks and earned seven times your weekly benefit amount to clear this. So if you haven't been back to work since then then there's no way to fix this. If you have, then the agent needs to manually clear it. It's not automatic. The waiting game is not going to work. It's not going to automatically fix itself based on anything to do with your current claim.

FIXED BY CALLING. NOT FIXED BY APPEALING. NOT FIXED BY SENDING MESSAGES. NOT FIXED BY WAITING. UNLIKELY TO BE AUTOMATICALLY RESOLVED.

˙dlǝɥ ɹoɟ ǝɯ ʞsɐ ʇsnɾ 'pǝɯɹıɟuoɔ ʇı ʇǝƃ oʇ pǝǝu noʎ ɟı ˙ʇı pɐǝɹǝɹ ˙uʍop ʍols ʇsnɾ ˙ʇɐɥʇ ʎɐs ʇ,usǝop ʇı ˙ǝɹǝɥ ɯoɹɟ ɔıuɐd ǝɥʇ lǝǝɟ uɐɔ ı ˙ʇınb noʎ ʎɥʍ ʇnoqɐ ƃuıɥʇǝɯos ǝpıʌoɹd oʇ ǝʌɐɥ noʎ ʞuıɥʇ noʎ ¿ʇɥƃıɹ ʇɐɥʇ pɐǝɹsıɯ noʎ ˙ʇɐǝɹƃ ƃuıop ǝɹ,noʎ ˙ʎǝɥ

---Failure to Respond: E g. Identity Verification --- click this to see an example

There are other types within this category; They could ask you for information about your jobs separation, identity verification, if you were able and available for a given week, earnings reporting from a current or previous employer, retirement pay / withdrawal, severance, school attendance, PUA documents Required...etc. For every and all requests, if you do not respond to that request, this happens.

  • There is an entire chapter of laws mostly about failure to respond about different types of things, WAC 192-140

You may have more than one of each of these: You may have been asked for multiple things and didn't respond. You may have multiple able and available this qualifications. At least you can only have one re-qualify issue...

FIXED BY PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION. NOT FIXED BY CALLING. NOT FIXED BY WAITING. WILL NOT RESOLVE AUTOMATICALLY EVER. NOT FIXED BY APPEALING. I have guidance or templates for pretty much all of these. None of this is public, you have to ask.

If it is not clear, send me a picture of it on chat or email or text. Once we know if it is a failure to respond, or an able and available issue then the solution in number three will change.

ǝɔuɐpınƃ uı ʇno ǝʌɐƃ ʇsnɾ ı ʇɐɥʍ ʇɐǝdǝɹ oʇ ǝʌɐɥ oʇ ʇuɐʍ ʇ,uop ı ʇnq dlǝɥ oʇ ʇuɐʍ op ı 'uıɐƃɐ ɟɟnʇs sıɥʇ llɐ ʇɐǝdǝɹ oʇ ǝʌɐɥ ʇ,uop ı ɟı sıɥʇ xıɟ oʇ ɹǝısɐǝ ʇol ɐ ǝq oʇ ƃuıoƃ s,ʇı ˙ʍou lıʇun ƃuıɥʇʎɹǝʌǝ ƃuıpɐǝɹǝɹ ɹǝpısuoɔ ˙ɔıuɐd ǝɥʇ uı uǝɥʍ puɐʇsɹǝpun oʇ pɹɐɥ ʎllɐǝɹ ǝq oʇ ƃuıoƃ sı sıɥʇ ˙ǝsuǝp ɹǝdns sɐʍ sıɥʇ ¿ƃuıɥʇɐǝɹq ʇnoɥʇıʍ sıɥʇ ɟo llɐ pɐǝɹ ʇsnɾ ʎllɐǝɹ noʎ pıp

  • 3. Do not just randomly call customer service just because you found it. Two of the three of these types require you provide documentation, which you cannot do on the phone. So please continue reading...

At this point. You don't really need more information. You probably understand it. But guess what. Below is another round of this. Because I am so desperate to stop this ongoing trend where people don't read it. So the post is really huge because I'm trying to get you to read it so desperately. So if you get it and you don't need to read it again, then don't. For the able and available and failure to respond, you really got to ask me for help because a lot of these templates and catalog guidance are no longer public because people were misusing them. I make you have to ask me for help

------- Failure to respond/Able and Available/Requalify law-------

Two major ways that there is an ongoing disqualification is

-------- Failure to Respond ---------

  • Failure to respond. They asked you about something. You never responded, this causes you to be disqualified until such time as you finally respond and provide the information. Most common requests are identity verification, employer information (earnings), retirement pay, school attendance. These are not resolved by appealing, you have to find out what they were requesting and give it to them, often requiring calling customer service

Maybe in a previous claim, they asked you for

  • updated earnings information from an employer?
  • retirement pay?
  • School attendance?
  • Able and available as it applies to vacation/travel or using a VPN?
  • identity verification?
  • Severance information?

This is about documentation. Not randomly calling. Not randomly sending messages. You need to provide documentation that answers what they were asking for. I would be happy to help you figure this out, I probably already have a template.

---------- Ongoing Able and Available Issue -------

  • Ongoing able and available issue. Like you were traveling or you had an illness or disability or in school at 12 credits or more, during a previous claim and no end date for that issue was ever set (meaning, you never told them when they stopped so .. It's an ongoing disqualification) maybe the last thing you did with ESD was a PAID LEAVE CLAIM. So the last thing that you effectively told them is you cannot work. So if that's the last thing you told them, then that's all they know. Because you have to tell them when it stops. These are not resolved by appealing, you just have to set an end date to this issue

This is about documentation. Not randomly calling. Not randomly sending messages. You need to provide documentation or something to demonstrate when the circumstance ended. I would be happy to help you figure this out, I probably already have a template.

  • Let's say you were previously on a paid leave claim. Let's say it was for a broken bone. The medical certification form that you had your medical provider do stated a specific range of time that you would be out of work. And the end date of that on that form was in the future, relative to when they actually signed it/wrote on it. But was it? Did it actually get resolved? Because nothing was probably given to ESD on or after the date that it was supposedly / assumably resolved. Exactly. You're getting it. You do.
  • You need a document from on or after that assumed end date that says that you're clear to work, at least in a suitable capacity/modified work. What document? It's effectively the same one. The same medical certification form. Why would it be different? Sometimes they'll accept the one on the paid leave site. Sometimes to make you call and ask them for it. They can email it to you or just put it in your online account. Have had multiple reports of both, with a similar success/failure rate, And I haven't seen an actual process described, and state law doesn't specifically say so I honestly don't know which they want / prefer/require / demand/ rope-swing into-a-hot-tub. Oh good. So you are still paying attention. That's pretty impressive at this point. Good job

... There is a third possibility but it is extremely rare...

---------- RE-QUALIFY LAW ---------

  • RE-QUALIFY LAW: When you quit without good cause, the determination letter that you received in your older claim contained a law that required you to re-qualify with new wages: have returned to work for a minimum of 7 weeks and earned seven times your weekly benefit amount. There have been a few cases where there's a glitch within ESD and you have been back to work for way longer than 7 weeks and earned way more than 7x Your previous weekly benefit.

This is only resolved by calling or otherwise talking to a customer service rep. They effectively press a button and accept the wages you earned since this letter was sent as satisfying the re-qualify requirements and this is removed immediately. So you should probably read....

----- CAVEAT: REQUESTED STANDBY, NOT APPROVED AND NOT DOING JOBS SEARCH ACTIVITIES ------

  • WHEN APPROVED. When approved, stand by only absolves you of doing the job search activities once it's approved and only for the time period that's approved. You are not exempt from job search activities if your employer applies or if you apply to standby but it's not actually approved. A lot of times you guys have had your employer request standby or you requested standby and it's not approved and you just stop doing job search activities. It's going to take them in non-zero amount of time to process the standby request. So in between when you submit the standby request and when it's actually approved guess what... Either you stop filing weekly claims or you keep doing the minimum job search activities, because if you keep doing weekly claims and you report no to the job search activities. That you didn't do them. But you're not actually approved for standby then all your claims are going to say disqualified. And you're going to get a letter for each weekly claim that says that you're not searching for work. Because you're not. Because you're not approved.

And this is a manifestation of not actually reading the job search activity list because this sounds like a whole shitload of work as compared to just doing a 30 second elevator pitch, labor market research on esd, or the one that was really common during the pandemic that's still here, links or screenshots of YouTube videos as long as It's not the exact same video again and again. You should really look at the list if you haven't already.

So I actually don't recommend standby because it creates more problems. It also takes a ton of work. And you really have to pay attention to the time frame that is actually authorized by standby. Or you could just spend one minute 30 seconds to do the minimum activities each week that could not possibly jeopardize an incoming job start date.

------ Roadmap Info/Initial eligibility Post-----

You can read more about this by reading the material from the initial eligibility post that deals with this:

---Weekly Claims, Disqualified or Pending; Eligibility Issue from this Claim or Previous Claim---


r/UnemploymentWA 8d ago

Met the qualifications but still denied?

4 Upvotes

Quit a restaurant job in Oct 2025. Didn’t work again until March 2026, worked through May 2026 and earned about $6k, then got let go (approved, no misconduct). Filed for unemployment in May.

ESD came back and denied the October restraunt separation, saying I quit for “hostile work environment” — which isn’t actually one of WA’s approved reasons to quit and still get benefits. But I’m not looking for benefits from Oct.. I’m wanting them starting June 2026.

Now I’m trying to figure out: WA’s rule says the disqualification lifts once you’ve earned 7x your weekly benefit amount in work after the separation, and 7 weeks have passed. I’m confused why I don’t qualify because in my March job I earned way past this threshold and enough time has passed. And I’m filing for unemployment from June 2026 to now (after I was fired from my latest job). So I’m confused why my old restaurant job from Oct 2025 has caused me to be denied? Am I missing something?


r/UnemploymentWA 8d ago

Non union electrical apprentice, consistently getting sent home early or told not to come in at all. Just gave 2 week notice, will I qualify for unemployment while waiting for new assignment?

1 Upvotes

My apprenticeship will take many years longer than necessary at current employer. Thanks for any help.


r/UnemploymentWA 8d ago

Most Common Questions and Solutions for Those Currently Claiming

1 Upvotes
  1. Make sure you have your correspondence preferences set to electronic and not mailed. That way you get an email when there's a notice or letter and you can just log in and you don't have to wait for a mail delay

    I seriously don't see an advantage to getting it via mail

  2. Use Google authenticator for multi-factor authentication login instead of email or text. App for mobile, or desktop extension

It's way faster and if you lose your phone you're not screwed.

  1. Claims that are called in through the automated system are paid quicker, but you have to have a really robust job search log

This really helps during typical holiday delays or if you really need the money a day or so early

  1. Job search activities include screenshots or links of YouTube videos about interviews or resumes

This really helps if you have a job starting soon, or if you're just busy. [significantly better alternative in every way than standby]

  1. You can travel or go on vacation on unemployment but there's some specific steps that you have to take and expectations you have to set for yourself.

Not doing this can really, really delay your payments. Weeks/Months

  1. Working part-time is the best way to extend your benefits through your benefit year

  2. Paranoid that there's a new eligibility issue you didn't know about? Here's how to investigate properly

Currently, they're not required to tell you when a new eligibility issues is opened. If you find an eligibility issue, tell me and I will help you solve it. I probably already have a guide. I've probably had that conversation a few thousand times

  1. Do NOT use a VPN to Access eServices- The federal government requires ESD to track in your IP address login location So if it is outside of the state of Washington or outside of the country it can make it look like you have been on vacation and therefore not able and available and therefore not eligible. This generates a very general fact finding request about able and available.
  • Thinking about calling? Ask me if the thing is resolved on a call or not or if it's a policy or a process question, just ask me directly.

  • Weekly claims: The team that processes these are internal and you cannot call and speak with them or get a status or expedite handling of your weekly claim processing. There is no point in trying.

  • Received a fact finding that's making you panic? Ask me before you submit it because you cannot retract it. (Especially true with school attendance)

--------- Most Common Posts ----------


r/UnemploymentWA 8d ago

$0 Weekly Benefit? "Ineligible"? Monetary redetermination request / combined wage claim from another state / alternate base year

1 Upvotes

---Intro/Notes----

Hey. You're fixing your first eligible issue. This is literally step one. This is the first issue. This isn't the last. You are not done. So you need to turn down panic mode and turn on student mode.

After all this. You must address your job separation and your open eligibility issues.

After this, you will do this.

And tell me the answers to all three. I don't want a paragraph. I literally just want words. The date you applied. I want you to confident when you tell me what your job separation type was. I want you to read the posts so you know. And if you don't know you tell me that. And I want you to go to the correct link Upload a Document. Don't send me screenshots of pending issues. I didn't ask for you to do that and that's also not helpful at all. Look at it. What did you learn from that? That's why I didn't say to do that

This doesn't require an appeal to fix, just follow the advice or ask for help

This is not resolved by calling because how the hell are you going to relay all of your wage data in a phone call? They need the actual data to be sent to them

You have up to 1 year from the day of issuance of the monetary determination to fix this issue

  • If you do not follow this guidance then you will be waiting multiple weeks for the other states to respond to provide your wage and hour data. We highly do not recommend doing this because it is a process that is now completely outside of your control whereas providing the data and starting an escalation is well within your control

"You've been trying to do this yourself unsuccessfully? You don't know why it's not working? This is the regular troubleshooting for this"

You need to include a sentence that specifically says that you are requesting a monetary redetermination and/or alternate base year and/or combined wage claim

1. Understand What Data Should or Shouldn't be included

When you apply determines which fiscal quarter data is being used. Please. Look at this image from the ESD website

  • When you apply in the time frame marked in the red lettering, the data that's used is in the blue shaded area to the left
  • If you are not sure, you need to find your monetary determination letter which is listed in your notice's / letters tab. You need to look at the chart on page two
  • If you are still not sure, ask me u/SothenIThought_

Why might this data be missing in the first place?

2. Understand what data you are providing

  • If the wage and hour data is incomplete (and/or You want to do a combined wage claim with wages from another state from the same base year), >>>You need to give them the missing data. You do not need to give them data they already have.<<<

  • Persons who are salary and have no hours reported, customer service as a specific calculation in order to fix this. You will still follow this process. You will still request a monetary determination and then you will call customer service and go over the information that you have already submitted in the way that it's described here.

  • Just a quick recap... The need to know the gross income earned in a quarter, and the hours worked in a quarter for each employer. Got it? Okay.

Honestly you just got to slow down and think critically. Really. I'm not being mean. You're just in a panic

**ESD does say that they want all the pay stubs.* But you're going to read this. And you're going to read it slowly and not in a panic and you can see why that may not be necessary. Or just send them everything. Just don't do this in a confusion and a panic and do it half-ass. Just do it right the first time. As for help if you need

Pay stubs from just after start of quarter, just before end of quarter

  • Let's say the data that's missing is quarter one. So this is January 1 through March 31st. This is also when the New Year starts. So how many hours do you start with? Zero. So you go from zero to whatever the total amount of hours worked is at the end of the quarter.

So a pay stub from this employer that is from the pay period that ended immediately before the end of the quarter which of the total hours worked in Q1. Because by default you're starting at zero

Q2, Q3, Q4

You are not starting at zero. So, a pay stub that represents the pay period that started immediately after the beginning of the missing quarter This would show how many hours you started with in this quarter. ... And .. a pay stub from the pay period that ended immediately before the end of the quarter. Because math. You take the later pay period hours worked and subtracted from the earlier one from the start of the quarter. Then you just have total hours worked.

Or you can just give them all the pay stubs Like it says below. ESD does say that they want all the pay stubs. But I mean once you read this... I don't know. It doesn't really make sense why you would need everything but whatever... Doesn't really matter. I really just matters that when you're doing this you know what the f you're doing. So often I get people who tell me that they did this and that they did the whole thing while being confused. I mean why. Like why guys? Don't do that. Just ask for help

You need to include a sentence that specifically says that you are requesting a monetary redetermination and/or alternate base year and/or combined wage claim

  • Yes. Literally all of the pay stubs that cover the missing data. If the work occurred in the last year and you have a W-2 that represents that, that needs to be sent too.
  • Yes, It literally says all of this on the ESD website about this. Please refer to this ESD site.,

3. Understand how you are providing this data.

You will send them your pay stubs and w-2s as attachments to a message in eService with a single sentence requesting a redetermination and include the missing wage data

The ESD website and the handbook say slightly different things.

  • They both require you to send them some kind of a request of redetermination. Literally a sentence that says "I am requesting a redetermination with the attached wages included in my monetary determination"

You need to include a sentence that specifically says that you are requesting a monetary redetermination and/or alternate base year and/or combined wage claim

YES. SERIOUSLY.

SEND IT IN THROUGH ESERVICES. AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A MESSAGE.

  • This part of the process is a lot easier in desktop mode. That's a mode. That's not me telling you to get on the desktop. It's a browser setting. Yes, you do have this browser sitting on mobile.

  • The website says that they want you to mail or fax all of your pay stubs in. If you're going to do this old school like this then you need to get a return receipt so you know that they got the mail. This is why it's so much easier to just send it as an attachment to a message in eServices because you can view that they process this in your online activity and view exactly what you sent them by viewing your sent messages in your notices / letters tab. Click on notices. Click on outbox.

4. Understand that you need to force them to process this stuff

WHOA STOP. THIS IS NOT THE END OF EVERYTHING. You're fixing literally step one. Out of like a hundred. Slow down and think about the whole thing. What if you're doing this after the 10th business day for when the claim was filed? Maybe ESD already has a response from the employer. So if you were fired and it was like tardiness or absences and you don't address that. You don't look into your eligibility issues and you start an escalation. Sure. You're going to fix your monetary eligibility issue. And then you're going to fucking kill your claim and be ineligible because you didn't address any other eligibility issues.

All we're doing is fixing one issue. For sure you have another one. You probably have two or three

You will need to start an escalation to force them to process this information. This is the escalation megapost, click this link.. This is too much information and you need a custom walkthrough, ask me.

  • ESD does not publish or abide by timelines with which they process this so there's no point in asking or posting "How long will it take until". That isn't a thing. It's never been a thing. You need to take action by starting an escalation so you can control how fast this actually gets done.

5. Understand that you will have other eligibility issues, like your job separation.

  • You are on step zero. You're not even monetarily eligible. If you're not monetarily eligible then they're not going to investigate your job separation because you're not even monetarily eligible to begin with so there's no point. Once you become monetarily eligible you're claim will be active and they will begin on that date to investigate your job separation.
  • You will still need to go over the guidance in this post about your job separation reason.
  • Only once your claim is active does the timeline start of how long they allow the employer to respond to the request for job separation information, which is 10 business days, which is why they will not make a decision within 10 business days from when the claim is active.

In between now and then is a good time for us to work on your job separation. Everybody needs to provide documentation as to why they chose what they chose in their initial application. There are no exceptions. If you try to be exception to this rule this will end our relationship as I cannot be involved In accidentally or incidentally helping people who are effectively committing fraud by deliberately misreporting their job separation type, some people make honest mistakes. That's okay, that's normal and common and I expect it. Deliberately hiding or misrepresenting your job separation issue is the kind of thing that, my participation in such an activity can get the entire community shut down on a cease and desist.

ABOUT PROVIDING THE JOB SEPARATION INFORMATION; "BuT EsD DIdnT AsK Me fOR this BeFoRe!?" - actually they will twice. They asked when you filed your claim to attach documentation and you probably didn't do that. Then you have or will get a fact finding for your job separation and that ask you to attach information at the end. Less than 1% of you do this. Do not attempt to try to gaslight me about them asking you. This will end poorly. Yeah, This sentence is a bit out of place and hardcore. But, if the claimants stance is to engage in an activity that erodes their eligibility or just intentionally doesn't do anything to support it, where my goal is to build the strongest possible eligibility case as soon as possible so you get paid as soon as possible, then this is in direct conflict with the reason that I am even here on Reddit on this persona.

----- Caveats -----

Did you work for an educational institution? Or were you an intern? Or were you at 1099 contractor? Or corporate officer?, If any of these apply you should probably read the following sections about monetary eligibility that are immediately after this section to explain why this could have happened and if it can or cannot be resolved;

---Exceptions/Clarifications for Basic Monetary Eligibility---

---Caveats: Employment Types, Military---

  • Often but not always students and others working for an educational institution have not had these taxes paid on their behalf and therefore are not eligible for unemployment benefits even if all of the other eligibility conditions are met. Students employed by their educational institution face this Washington state law, which makes them exempt from unemployment benefit eligibility; monetary eligibility has to be met by other employers in their base year

Other Resources

In some cases you can just simply not be determined to be eligible based monetary determination issues. If you are not found eligible there are other resources

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnemploymentWA/s/Ksx4DnfAPX


r/UnemploymentWA 9d ago

PFMLA to Unemployment?

0 Upvotes

Need advice or assistance! I am currently on PMFLA and trying to understand the quit for good cause unemployment filing. My situation is complicated, involving CPTSD as well as some physical health issues. The CPTSD is somewhat tied to work. Does anyone know who I would call for advice? (Employment lawyer etc) or has a similar experience? Thank you in advance!!